Leaders of the government parties decided to abolish the fees for newborn babies and gradually also for children under six. Moreover, the 5000-crown annual limit for the fees and cash Czech Greens head calls on his deputy to run in elections ...
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Czech universities could lose EU subsidies due to lobbying-press ... payments will be lowered to 3000 crowns for children under 15.
The sum a patient pays above the limit is returned to him/her by the health insurer. Kuchtova said she considers the planned changes to the regulatory fees system a positive step, but she criticised the senior ruling Civic Democrats (ODS) for refusing to discuss further demands of the junior government parties, the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and the Greens, concerning fees for prescriptions and hospitalisation. Kuchtova noted that she would therefore not respect the agreement that the coalition parties' members would submit no other proposals in this respect. Since January, Czechs have paid 30 crowns per visit to a doctor and per item on a prescription, 90 crowns for after hours and 60 crowns per day in hospital. KDU-CSL deputy Michaela Sojdrova was not fully satisfied with Monday's compromise either, but she called it "reasonable." She added that the Christian Democrats would mainly like to re-assess the health fees paid by pensioners. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek (ODS) said the coalition should debate the health care fees again in a year, mainly in view of their impact on the elderly. Unlike Sojdrova, Kuchtova is not a legislator and she could submit legislative proposals only in cooperation with her party colleagues in the lower house. One of the main critics of the health care fees system among the Greens is deputy Olga Zubova. The parties' chairmen on Monday also approved the proposal of their expert commission, recommending that the fees be lifted for organ donors. Social care homes' inmates who have no money for the fees would receive special social benefits. The coalition agreement also enables health insurers to fine the health facilities collecting the fees at variance with law. ($1=16.121 crowns)
(Ceske Noviny)
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